The City of Huntsville, unlike the unpatriotic buffoons in Sacramento, is pulling out all the stops for Veterans this weekend. On Friday, a group of Wounded Warriors were welcomed at the airport. Patriot Guard riders lined the long corridor stretching from security to the baggage claim area. The trip was paid for by donations from Huntsville and Decatur residents and businesses. They will be getting pampered all weekend as special guests of the city.
The Huntsville Track Club hosted a “Hero’s Run” where veterans were the focus earlier today. Tonight, the Wounded Warriors were special guests at the Marine Corps Ball. Most of them were Marines, with a few token Soldiers thrown in. Tomorrow night, they will attend a local performance by ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and Monday will be treated to a guided bass-fishing trip on Lake Guntersville. Madison Christian Church is hosting a huge, delicious steak dinner that night and then Tuesday they will take part in the Huntsville Veterans Day Parade.
The city of Huntsville does a lot for its Veterans. Though there is a major military base here, only 2,000 active duty Soldiers are stationed on Redstone Arsenal. Tonight, the UAH Chargers and AUSA treated Soldiers to a hockey game against Bemidji State. Who? That’s what I said. So, I pulled out my Blackberry and did a search. We were making all kinds of fun of them and thought, “what kind of team can’t beat a college called Bemidji State?” Apparently, one from Minnesota!! The Chargers lost 2-1, but the Soldiers were the spotlight as seen here in this exclusive video by crack ASP reporter CJ (my new title – I like the “crack” part):
There were also some famous people in the audience who have a son that plays on the team. Can you guess who they are? Their son is one of the UAH goalies.
Does it all make a difference? One young Marine honored last year said Huntsville’s welcome was a thousand times better than his own hometown’s.
There, a flight attendant helped him into a wheelchair, took him though a back door to the terminal and said good-bye. He called a cab to get home.
I think it does make a difference.
I told you that you would love it there. Maybe the job isn’t so great at times, but the city is AWESOME. I’m glad they’re showing their colors!! Much better than DC and them crazy Code Pinkers and protesters!
I’m fixing the video. I didn’t realize the audio was chopped out. Please check back if it isn’t working.
As Veteran’s Day approaches, 67 Year Old Tony Rose and his lawyer are wondering what additional rocks they have to look under to find his lawful Social Security Pension.
He was born in Canada and his family moved to New York when he was a child and became dual Canadian and US Citizens. After Tony’s Navy discharge he worked in the US for over 3 decades, paying state and federal taxes and Social Security.
In 2006 when Tony applied for his pension he was informed that the US Department of Homeland Security had revoked his US citizenship and did not recognize his Canadian citizenship. He has attempted to resolve this matter for over 2 years and has been without a pension during that period.The Social Security Administration will not begin his pension payments until his citizenship issue is resolved. He has been trying to work this matter through a lawyer, the VA, his local representatives in government (congressional level) and directly through the Social Security Office.
No one seems to know what to do, who should take action and who has responsibility. Letters directly to the presidential campaign received no response. The Inspector General of the US has been notified and Tony has camped out in his local Congressional Representative’s Office on numerous occasions and been turned away.
The veteran has lived in the United States since 1946 having moved from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to Detroit Michigan with his family that year at the age of 5 years old. He attained dual citizenship in Canada and the United States and received a valid US Social Security Number. Tony served in the Armed Forces of the US honorably and has paid state and federal taxes to include social security from 1963 to the present in the United States of America. He is still paying those taxes at his current part time jobs.
At this writing, Mr. Rose has been given no indication by the US Government that his case is being examined by anyone who can take a responsible course of action, schedule a hearing or otherwise determine the bottom line in this matter. His lawyer, who is working pro bono, is totally frustrated and each of the agencies involved has stated the other should be responsible to do something.
Tony lives at the Hastings Minnesota State Veteran’s Home and works locally at the 2nd Street Coffee Shop and the Animal Ark